The stars glittered above like a thousand diamonds scattered across the velvet of the night, but Lusi barely noticed them. The exhaustion from the battle weighed heavily on her, but even more overwhelming was the strange, fluttering feeling in her chest after her moment with Wushi. She glanced sideways at him, walking a few steps ahead, his figure tall and composed despite the chaos they had just survived.
Wushi, ever focused, was scanning their surroundings for any signs of danger, his grip on his sword relaxed but ready. He hadn't said much since the battle, the silence between them filled with the unsaid words that hung in the air. Lusi found herself stealing glances at him, her thoughts swirling in a mix of gratitude and confusion. Why had her heart raced so when he shielded her? Why did his closeness feel like more than just protection?
The forest they walked through was dense, the shadows cast by the trees long and foreboding under the light of the full moon. It was quiet—too quiet. Lusi's instincts prickled, sensing something amiss. She had learned to trust those feelings, especially in a world where danger lurked at every turn.
Suddenly, a sound—faint but distinct—broke the silence. It was the snap of a twig, deliberate and close. Wushi halted, his senses alert in an instant.
"We're not alone," he said in a low voice, his eyes scanning the darkness ahead.
Lusi nodded, her hand instinctively reaching for the pouch where she kept her medicinal tools, some of which doubled as weapons. There was no doubt—something or someone was watching them. They pressed forward cautiously, every step calculated, every movement quiet.
As they rounded a bend, the source of the sound revealed itself—a group of shadowy figures, cloaked and masked, waiting for them. Wushi tensed beside her, his grip tightening on his sword, but Lusi's mind raced in a different direction. She recognized the insignia on one of their cloaks.
"The Night Stalkers," she whispered, more to herself than to Wushi. "Assassins. But why are they here?"
The leader of the group stepped forward, their masked face giving away no emotion. "You have interfered with matters beyond your understanding," the figure said, their voice cold and echoing in the night. "Leave now, and we may yet spare your lives."
Wushi's face hardened. "We don't run from threats," he said, his voice steady. "If you want a fight, we'll give you one."
The tension in the air thickened, the standoff between them ready to explode into violence. But Lusi, ever the strategist, raised a hand, signaling Wushi to hold for a moment. She stepped forward, her eyes locked on the leader.
"Why are you after us?" she demanded, her voice steady despite the danger. "We have no quarrel with the Night Stalkers."
The leader's eyes flicked to her, then back to Wushi. "This is not personal, Serpent Queen. We are simply executing a contract. One that involves eliminating both you and your companion."
Lusi's heart sank. Another attempt on their lives. It seemed no matter where they went, someone was always lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike. But something about this group felt different—more dangerous, more relentless.
Before Lusi could respond, the leader raised their hand, signaling their men to attack. Without hesitation, Wushi surged forward, his sword flashing in the moonlight as he met the assassins head-on. Lusi followed, her movements fluid and precise as she weaved through the attackers, her blades slicing through the night.
The battle was fierce but swift. Wushi's demi-god strength, combined with Lusi's agility and cunning, made them an unstoppable force. Within moments, the clearing was silent once more, the bodies of the assassins lying motionless on the ground.
Breathing heavily, Lusi wiped the sweat from her brow, her heart still racing from the fight. Wushi sheathed his sword, his face impassive as he surveyed the scene.
"We need to keep moving," he said, his voice calm despite the chaos they had just endured. "There could be more of them."
Lusi nodded, but as they began to walk again, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was changing between them. The way he had protected her, the way they had fought side by side—it was more than just a partnership of necessity. There was a bond forming, one that neither of them had spoken of, but both of them felt.
As they made their way deeper into the forest, the moonlight casting long shadows on the ground, Lusi found herself walking closer to Wushi than before. The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable anymore. Instead, it was filled with a quiet understanding, a connection that words didn't need to express.
Under the midnight sky, the echoes of their shared battles and victories seemed to bring them closer, even as the dangers ahead grew darker. The path before them was uncertain, but one thing was clear—together, they were stronger.